Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a strategy employed by a business to ensure that they are socially responsible and accountable to itself, the public, and all its stakeholders. Practicing CSR ensures that enterprises remain cognizant of their impact on the various aspects of the society including social, economic, and the environment. Environmental CSR guarantees that the business does not engage in practices that have a damaging effect on the environment. One of the detrimental impacts that a company can have on the environment is deforestation. Businesses have an important role in protecting forests as a way of enhancing sustainable development. Over the past, businesses have engaged in unprecedented clearing of forests to either create land for occupation or utilize the timber as raw materials. However, with the increased awareness in CSR, many companies are incorporating strategies that promote a no deforestation policy.
One of the most significant causes of global warming is deforestation. Research has shown that deforestation accounts for up to 20% of carbon emission globally (Brumagim, & Cann, 2012). It further threatens the livelihood of up to 1.6 billion people who depend on the forest not only for food but economic stability. Many companies in the world employ the use of wood and other paper-based products to run their affairs. The use of forest products can have broad implications for the environmental value of the forests. Over the recent past, the demand and competition for wood products have intensified as companies attempt to meet their needs. In the wake of such events, businesses must ensure that they make decisions that will increase sustainability and responsible utilization of forest resources. The first strategy that businesses must embark on as part of their CSR is sustainable forest management. Here, business will be required to use the forest resources in a manner that promotes vitality and growth. Companies must ensure that biodiversity and ecological functions of the forests are maintained to the optimum.
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Sustainable forest management requires businesses to take notice that forests have not only environmental benefits but also has economic advantages. Research has indicated that the sector employs up to 14 million workers with a global GDP outcome of 1% (Brumagim, & Cann, 2012). Both companies and consumers must ensure that they take actions to maintain the forests around the globe. In this regard, a business must ensure that they continuously rely on sustainably produced wood products. Other than sustainability, the companies must remain alive to the legal requirements concerning forest management. Therefore, trees will be in a pole position to provide ecological services which will work to enhance sustainable socio-economic development.
Other than sustainable forest management, companies can utilize additional policies in a bid to end deforestation which implicates on their CSR. Schaltegger and Wagner (2017) asserted that an example of a policy that has borne fruits is known as the “zero deforestation.” Many scholars agree that if business corporations possess the power to destroy the world’s forests, they also have the ability to save them. The “zero deforestation” policies ensure a total clean-up of the companies’ supply chains. Suppliers will be held responsible for producing forest commodities such as timber and palm oil in a way that promotes deforestation. It also requires organizations to set up ambitious goals to maximize the utilization of recycled pulp, wood, fiber, and paper in their products. In ensuring the success of this policy, businesses publicly make a pledge to remain deforestation-free areas. In doing so, they should work to ensure that their products or materials do not in any way drive deforestation.
Corporations must ensure that they source and promote the sale of deforestation-free commodities. Sustainable practices will only be realized when business ensure that they have a strong market for such goods. Companies must engage each other in roundtable meetings to set specific standards for their products. Collective responsibility is an essential tenet in ensuring that businesses compliance to the "zero deforestation" policy. Companies must ensure that their affiliates and suppliers do not engage in forest destruction practices in any significant process in their production.
Many companies today are engaging in environmental sustainability in a bid to prevent the environment for the future generations to come. The businesses remain cognizant of the importance of forests in the lives of human beings and animals. Forests have an important role in the provision of shelter for animals, fresh water, and food. They also engage in the absorption of greenhouse gases and subsequently creating oxygen. According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, 18 million acres of forests are under destruction every year (Schaltegger, & Wagner, 2017). Therefore, companies must increasingly utilize the two strategies discussed including sustainable forest management and zero deforestation policies in combating the deforestation menace. In the United States, McDonald's has shown an increased commitment to protecting forest resources from destruction. The company focuses on two methods of preserving the natural vegetation in Amazon including working with their suppliers and their independent actions (Welford, 2016).
McDonald's expects their suppliers to act ethically and abide by all the laws and regulations that involve forests. They work throughout their entire supply chain to ensure that specific policies are realized. First, McDonald's ensures that none of its suppliers engages in deforestation of either a primary forest or a high conservation value area. It has also prohibited any form of development or commodity development on peatlands. The company also embarks on practices that promote verification of the production of raw materials. In doing this, the company acts in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a project that aims at seeks to secure the future of all people worldwide. McDonald’s also engages in several self-driven initiatives to end deforestation. It works in partnership with the government, suppliers, and non-governmental organization in ensuring that this becomes a reality. For instance, it is a member of the New York Declaration on Forest, an initiative aimed at ending deforestation by 2030 (Welford, 2016). Therefore, the company is at the helm of stopping deforestation and forest degradation through sourcing vital commodities. It is part of its CSR and part of McDonald's vision in enhancing sustainability in its practices.
In conclusion, CSR is an essential part of any business that remains alive to the needs and welfares of the society. Companies have in the recent past engaged in deforestation practices to create space for business expansion and also to use timber for processing raw materials. However, more focus on environmental CSR has put businesses on notice by requiring them to apply sustainable ecological measures and implementing policies such as "zero deforestation," both aimed at restricting ecological degradation. It is therefore incumbent upon organizations to assess their practices and that of their affiliates and supply chains to ensure compliance with environmentally friendly practices. McDonald's is one of the companies that have provided an excellent example in corporate social responsibility. It has ensured that all its supply chains adhere to applicable laws and regulations and that it creates meaningful partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable practices. As such, more enterprises are challenged to follow suit and emulate the good work done by McDonald’s.
References
Brumagim, A. L., & Cann, C. W. (2012). A Framework for Teaching Social and Environmental Sustainability to Undergraduate Business Majors. Journal of Education for Business , 87 (5), 303-308. doi:10.1080/08832323.2011.598886
Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2017). Managing the business case for sustainability: The integration of social, environmental and economic performance . Routledge.
Welford, R. (2016). Corporate environmental management 3: Towards sustainable development . Routledge.
